In some sick way, I almost hope Collier sucks so we can move on. I'm not going to root against him, but if he does suck, I won't be sad. Collier was one inch away from being cut. Ming should be out there representing the Rockets tonight. For good or for bad. Give the kid some motivation to get better. I mean, he was probably psyched to get some big minutes until Rudy told him he'd be on the bench yet again.
I believe Ming right now already has the ability to play in NBA, don't forgot all the numbers he put up aginst better competition (than China) during the summer. those are the number usually for NBA player like Dirk and Peja put up after playing in NBA for yrs. the problem for ming is he hasn't learn what he can do and what he can not, he hasn't learned what his strength is and weakness. when he does learns, it ususally take a yr at least, then his stats for every catergory will boost up instantly. although, I do beleive that in his rookie season, he will have big number in some particular night after all star game
I can believe that Yao might have some fatigue and may not be totally versed in the Rocket system. What I find so hard to believe is that he would be traumatized by having some bad experiences on the court. Is he that sensitive?
Just imagine how hard it must be for Ming to get comfortable, personally, with his teammates, since he can't speak english very well. That's a big factor, to fit in, in a social way. All he needs is time, and practice with the team. .....and maybe a hug or two....from some american ladies.....
yeah, once he starts hanging out with some fly asian girls, Cat and Steve will be hanging out with him a lot more.
He may be more sensitive than we think, since he's so young. Sort of like trying to fit in at school...in a different country, different culture, different people, different language. I hope he gets comfortable, with the feeling of acceptance from those around him.....the last thing we need is for him to be lonely and homesick.
I understand that kind of 'sensitive'. I just don't see how having a bad game is going to personally traumatize him. And, if things are going too poorly, Rudy is going to yank him out anyway. Yao needs playing time.
My condolences to Cato. Take your time coming back. This little break won't stop the momentum you were building up. Collier, Ming, Ming, Collier - does it really matter in the end? Neither are going to see many minutes, I'd imagine.
Heres how I read the situation: Rudy does not want Ming in Francis and Mobleys iso lanes on offense at the start of the game. Francis does not want Ming in his area posting up. Mobley does not want Ming in his lanes. Rudy's offensive system is still so dependent on having clear outs for his guards that it makes a limited offensive player like Collier more valuable for the time being. I could be wrong but thats the way it looks to me.
JayZ, Read FranchiseBlade's post. That's a legitimate take, and I honestly believe that is what Rudy is thinking and that is what Washington was thinking with Kwame. I just don't get your "excuses" thing. What excuses is Rudy making for Yao? Maybe he is protecting his image; you ever consider that. The notion that Rudy should tell the truth, if indeed FranchiseBlades' take is Rudy's take (which I believe)...the notion that you think Rudy should say what FranchiseBlade did is weird to me. What does marketing have to do with this? You sound like a windandsea comment that he took back about Yao being disappointing and everyone got him too excited. Jay....Yao is being carefully...very carefully managed by the coaches...why should they say he's not ready. Jordan said that about Kwame last year, and word has it that just made it worse. Why is refusing to speak like Jordan an "excuse" i don't get it. Yao needs to be managed...he is putting waaaay too much pressure on himself, and that is not an excuse...
Did your church league travel to another country to play professional basketball players!? I can't believe you're comparing church league to the freaking NBA!
Condolences to Cato and his family.Hope that things work out for them. Collier needs to rebound and play some defense before Ming gets his minutes today.
You could tell Ming plays much better than Collier today (at least by half time.) In fact, we were behind by the smallest margin when Ming was on the court. Yes, he committed a couple of stupid turnover. But he might have made up for that with his other nice plays. Also, he has to play to understand the NBA rules in order to avoid those turnovers such as travelling, etc. Well, let's say he is tired and 9 minutes for half game is good enough for the coach. Let's go small or Collier and see how many rebounds we lost to Portland as a result not to mention the poor shooting percentage.
There is a site dedicated to bash Ming. So for those of you who dont know the difference between a ping pong ball and a basketball, please go there.
I agree with those takes, but again, it doesn't address the fact that Rudy decided to start Collier last night, "ya know, familiarity" and all thos things. It is an excuse both for Yao not being ready to play - exactly what you are saying - or at least, dominate yet, and for the fact that Rudy hasn't been able to successfully incorporate him into any kind of schemes yet. If anything, though, I think he is certainly more ready to play than Collier, and Rudy coming on the radio and lying about Yao didn't start is doesn't sit right with me. In either case, I believe Yao is currently good enough to merit more touches, and that alone will make all the rest of his stats increase as well.
Jay, Just like I said, Yao came in right at his mark...the first TV timeout...unless Cato gets into the foul trouble. The team has a set game plan until the TV timeout and one after with Yao in. We run different plays and have a different defense as well....Yao's team runs a 3-2 zone. Why invert that just for one game? Familiarity has as much to do with the entire team's familiarity with a 1st Q game plan as it has to do with Collier alone. It makes absolutely no sense to me to argue with Rudy on starting Yao vs status quo, and as you saw, that was ALL Collier was there for...to prevent us from flipping our opening game/TV timeout game plans. admit it Jay....Collier starting 5 minutes was no big deal, and you are overreacting. Notice Hawkins started the second half...are you going to question that, too, or was it self-evident that Rudy fielded a 3rd Q lineup that got us back into the game. Of course, no one is this thread is about to give kudos to Rudy for that 3rd Q lineup and halftime lockerroom game plan. Yao had no effect on the outcome. Hawkins starting the 2nd half most certainly did.
Jason Collier played in 1 quarter last night. One. In that quarter the Rockets were outscored 29-18. In the three other quarters, they outscored the Blazers and Collier didn't play. I'm not saying it was all about Collier sucking, but familiarity with playing with him probably had something to do with it, and given that COllier hadn't even played in the three previous games, I don't see how any argument could have been made or can now be made (in retrospect) that it was a good idea to start him. Yet, according to Rudy it was because of familiarity. I still think that Yao should have started. But if not him, Collier? Makes no sense Look, I'm not saying there aren't merits to what you argue. I completely understand the "play the rookie in this time frame for this amount of time every game until he gets considerably more comfortable" mindset. And I know Yao has a lot of pressure on his back. But he played an excellent game last night, imo. His 4 rebounds would have been even higher (6 or 7) if it hadn't been for a couple of over the backs, only one of which was called. I think a start last night would have been more of a positive adjustment for both him and the team. Rudy did do a good job recognizing the excellent defense and all aorund game Hawk was playing and giving him the minutes he deserves.
Jay, Now I know you are exaggerating. You are wrong. Collier played until the TV timeout. From the 3:30 minute mark on with Yao, we were outscored 10-6. (You want me to prove it.) That's worse than the rest of the quarter. Yao had no effect on Portland ruling the 1st Q. Yao had no effect on anything. You are overreacting seemingly merely to sound off against Rudy. Familiarity is about the whole team understanding and being comfortable with how we start each game, and how we change when Yao is in the game. It is two different plans. There is no reason to think Yao would have had any more effect starting, enough to screw with our practiced 1st Q game plans. The players have a set game plan in the 1st that can nearly be charted possession for possession to start a game. We go to Griffin first, and then get Kenny going. Rudy likes it that way so he can see what works and doesn't. The plan is different once Yao comes in. Why mess with the team's familiarity with that plan by inverting when it happens?
